Bale loading and closing apparatus



July 24, 1951 A. E. GLOW ErAL BALE LOADING AND CLOSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb, 19, 1948 July 24, 1951 A. E. GLOW ETAL BALE LOADING AND CLOSING APPARATUS v4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1948 July 24, 1951 A. E. GLOW ETAL 2,561,853

BALE LOADING AND CLOSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 feg 5 63,/19 157 16.4.77

July 24, 1951 A. E. GLOW ETAL 2,561,853

BALE LOADING AND CLOSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 constructed. Otheraobjects Patented `July 24,` 1951 izuNiTian ,vfsfm'frfes PATENT W2,561,853

:Arthur/E. :Glow and Mass., lassigfnors to BemissBno. .lBagtCompanm St.. Louis,.:Mo., a 4corporaticnmf- Missouri npplicaupnfpebruary 19,"-re4s,seminar-9345 15 Claims.

1. t i-'Ehisl-invfenticn-n'elates .to:ballerlloadingiandlfclosing apparatus, and with regard to certain intere .dspecicnE-eatures, Lto sapparatus `.for @loading :acomftnercil iba'gs @into .bales of :baai-like :form .aand v closing fthe.: latter.

whe inventionrisian improvementuponfthexapgparatustshownain Unitedzstates Patentsi 42,'5 65, mated .:F.'ebzaiiaryl221 .1944; .2;374;1'47, `"daten 4A'pri1 1151511945 fand2-,402;476, Jdatedclune 18, .1946.

@Arnone1r the several objects of the invention imaycbe noted the iiprovision ccf .apparatus *.fcr quickly .rand `fconveniently semiantomatically xlcading :and :closing `:bales pcf `:the igeneral nature tshownaimsaid Patent 2,3421565\V and. according Lto themethod speciediin esaid-Ratent 12,402g476pcr .similari methods; tithe provision `of` apparatus l.of Athe :class adescrbed '.*which :minimizes :mitral-ignv-xnentra'mi:curlingf` of .ftheiedges fof bags l when :they .fare inserted Linto g paper ,'bales. thereby producing a bale of bags which may .betusedbimconjuncton l.with.automatic l-ling machinery for .the ibags. awithout the mishaps-lin.connection zwith .the \.lat tterewhich ftenucause :spilling and waste nimma `lterial.; zthe fgprovision -Lof `apparatus `of V.this iclass axthichl predetermines tension :in .the bale as.` load- ;ingtoccursrand which conveniently :and .accurately predetermines n'al compression .of lthe :con- .-.tentsaof .athe llbale.; ytus .of .this-.class `sivhiclfitis i.compactly and :rigidly :will .be .in part ap- :irent tandiin fpart pointed out hereinafter.

fllhe `Ainvention accordingly comprises lthe elementsfand combinationsro'f elementsafeaturesxof construction, .and farrangements `of `parts which `@will abe exemplied .in the :structures rhereinaft'er y fdesciibed, and .the cscope tof the application .of which wil1.=be=.indicated. in the following claims.

:.In the :accompanying :drawingsain which several .of various possible embodiments .of .thetinmention .are z illustrated,

l fFig. 1 .is sanisometric lview.` of the machine zsuppliedswith ian empty `.bale to rbe wadedand @prowided with :a 4tray .full :of bags "-.labout .to betin'- .serted :into .the .empty bale s is 2a vertical .sectinn taken `cn :line 5-5 the duale` shown :lining :4 `:being shown aand tthetprovision Tof appara- -*bLi-t-c'tain bagsfahead'fo'fithe isec'tioniline being @removed fr-claritm Fig. 6 -is fanisorrietric lView ofra tray; `f`iig. "57 iis fan 4isometric View df Ia linished 7'bag- 5 leadedfanfsealed''bale; r l

wie. "Silea dididfci-renitfdiagram.

Similar reference characters 4indicate corr`e l spondiig parts :throughout tthe :several vviews of itheirawings.

.1l-In Fsaid `patents 1 itis IIna'de clear what #the fadfavantagesl'arein;transporting'commercialleagsfby packaging themfin *an iacchi-fate; compressed ary.rangement lin :a `baigelike bale v4winch itself lis zmaintai'ried in tension. '.Theiresultrig .baliefisn'eat :1'5 iintapp'eavanceand,l-Iuetov the.compressicnnmhe montants, :its own tension. presents fa hard l pack sage 1ithichmnayl'benabusedin transitl'withontrdamas'eftoatheiedgesfofithe contained-bags "Thermesiit invention prcduces leaded :bales :at :a arap'id '.bagsi are icontainedzin'lthe :b'alesiso that :when .th'e pacs arereleasedrom :the lbalesrfor. f-eedi'ngfinto iautomaztic tbagepackaging :and filling ZmachineS, Eperlctoo'rdinatunfrviilltbe lattairied @without the 25 ifzusual :hazards ofgamming the #automatic rimahlnes-sor `:spilling @the productzenterin'g thenbaigs.

ReferringlnoW :more "particularly ato 'theidrawiingsmumeral il indicates. afsloping.'bedsuppcrted :uponi'legs andihavingta rear ,iplatfo'rmd .ntf-the front iis aa .cross :support :1 .zfor alparf of .long-itu .fdinalfguides :9. .The guidesare. alsosupponte :at ithefrear .uponfcrossemembers lvl Intermediatelm .the :bed :l ds provided `with A.cross ,ryokes lf3 which iextendaacross :andibelnwthe guidesf withrenough lclearance toradmit of certain ram 1parteffreferred wtozbelow.

, .The framparts include zaclongitudinal :station- :aryrracik d5 `:(.-carried onlzyokes `I'l) with which meshesafgearciil l carriedainra clevis f llzonathef end mi apistcnrrod .125| `II'he piston eirodfzreachesfinto an air cylinder 23 and .fis thereinattached iato a :double-acting zreciprcoating piston Z5. mhefeyliin'deris supportedfuponrsutabie:brackets Zircon'- cnected'with the .bed -il 'Fhegear Irl nfalso meshes lwith :.a :movable rack 129. vwhich is attached I:to three-sliding crosshead-s di., the .flatter 'being zborne upon Lthellcngitudinal guides E9. :By :admitting Aair ahead of :the u:.pistdn 25 :and :thrusting tthe gear :I 1 rearward, fthez'gear .islcause'd .to frollalongthe stationary/track Il 53ar1d .tniadvance themo-vablerackSiatitwice thlefspe'ed nfathe misten, which iconsierably reduces the spacemeededforzpowerilrequirements.

mhe .central :movable f'crosshe'ad el marries ra a'ssembly indicated generally `at numeral 33. Specifically,

3 this comprises a lateral support 35 on the central crosshead 3|. It includes a rearwardly extending arm 31. At the rear end of arm 31 is a platen 39 which carries heads 4| pivoted respectively at 43. Thus heads 4| may hinge toward one another toward the rear of the machine but are normally biased toward stops 45 by `reason of the general upward slant of Lthe machine, toward itsback. Ify desired, the heads 4| may be spring biased to their 4 cooperate with the bottom of a lower rearwardly extending stationary cuif 93, fastened to the back of the frame 15 by means of a web plate 95. This culi 93 is for cooperation with the lower lip 94 of a bale mouth.

The upper crossbar 89 of the yoke 19 includes a rearwardly extending cui 9| for engagement withytheinsideof thefupper-lip91 of a bale mouth, 4Cooperating with this cuff 9|l are mushpositions against the stops 45 as shown in said.,-

Patent 2,314,147. The heads 4| are notched, as shown at 41, for purposes which will appear.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the ram head assembly 33 may be reciprocated back and forth by alternately admitting air on opposite sides of the piston 25 and properly exhausting it on the opposite sides.

At the rear end of the machine (Fig: 1)V .is a.

control valve |61 for admitting air from a supply pipe |6| to one end `or the otherofr the cylinder 23 via pipes |69 and |1| (see also Fig. 8), -This valve |61 also includes relief means |13 so `that when one end of the air cylinder receives air over one of the pipes |69 or |1I, the other end of the cylinder will exhaust over the yother of said pipes |69 or |1|. p

Across the mid portion ofthe machine extend tray guides 49, which in effect constitute cantilevers reaching Afrom the sides ofthe bed `toward the center line of themachine but allowing Spaces 5| (see.Fig..4) between their inner vends'forpassage of the support 35 of the ram head 33. The purpose of thesel tray vguidesis to receive the bottom supports `53 ,of a bag tray shown generally aty numeral 55 (Fig). The inner ends vof the supports 53 are also spaced, as shown at` 51for admitting passage ofthe ram assembly support 35A when. the tray is` positioned centrally on the `tray'guides 49 (see Fig. l). End'yokes 59 of the tray are formed in loops which accommodate passage of the ram heads 4|.v The front yoke 59 of thetray 55 includes tongues 46| whicheooperate `with the notches 41 of the heads 4| to permit passage of the .heads through the tray.V The yokes 59 of each tray are jointed by anglepieces 63 lfor supporting akcolumn of bags 64 inithe tray, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the tongues A6| preventing this column of bags from Vgravitating forward when the tray is on a slant. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, the bags to bebaled maylbe arranged in oppositely directed bundles 66 of 25 org-so each, and held together by means of .a temporarilyv applied rod 65 having end hooks l61. Although vthe groups of bags are shown in Figs. 1 and 4 as being alternately laterally staggered-inA order to take care of ends that are thicker than the mouths, this would not always be necessary'where the ends are not substantially thicker. Also, if. desired, the bags 'neednot be laterallyoi'set by groups.

On the bed behind the'tray guides 49 is located a jaw mechanism` shown generally at 69, for resiliently gripping the mouth 1| of a paper baling bag 13.into which the column of bags' 64 isfto be pushed from' the tray 55. This jaw mechanism comprises a stationary frame extending. up from the bed'l and having upright guides 11. Sliding in the guides 11 is an open yoke 19 which on` its bottomportion includes inwardly directedwarmstl (Figs. 2,13 and 5). These, arms carry slidable mushroom grip pins 83. These pins are biased upward by springs 85, theirupper positions beingV limited` by end stops 81. The upper heads of these` pins 83 resiliently room pins 99 biased down by means of springs |0| and slidable in lugs |33 extending from the top |95 of the frame 15. The downward positions ofthese pins 99 are limited by end stops |01.

.From the above it will be clear that if the yoke 19 islifting while a bag mouth is in position around 'the' cuis 9| and 93, then the mushroom pins 83 will be resiliently biased against the lower lip 94 of the mouth and the upper lip 91 of the `mouth will be resiliently engaged by the mushroom pins 99. Further details of this willbe described in connection with the operation of the device.

`Lifting of the yoke 19 is vaccomplished .by means of lift cams |09 carried on a camshaft which may be operated from a control handle- H3 on one side of the machine. On the. other side of the machine the camshaft carries alever I5 vhaving aconnecting rod .|.|1 reaching. to an air valve H9, the purpose of which will 'be described VBehind the frame 1.5 y'are :located-a -pairl of longitudinal studs |2|. These are supported between a stationary `crossbar |23 and one-ofthe crossbars Rotatable onthese studs. are gripper `arms |25 having. finger" gripsv|21.. `These arms may be swung inwardly toward one another,

as shown in solidlines kin-IEig. 5, -or vswung outward, as shown by the dottedlines in .that iigure. They are also positioned longitudinally on the studs |2| byl collars |29.

Motion of. the gripper armsv |25 is accommodated byl openings-|3| in the `platform 5.- This platform also has a central slot |33 at its'rear for the reception of a moving support |35of a moving backstop |31. The support |35 is carried upon a crosshead` |39which slides on thelongitudinal guides' 9 where these extend lunder the platform 5. TheL crosshead |39 is provided with a downwardlyrdirected clevis |4|-pinned to the outer end ofa piston rod |43.' YRod |43 is connected to a piston |45 in a hydraulic cylinder |41, the latter being pivoted at |49 to the rear-V ward crossbar of the bed I.v` The purpose'of thebackstop |31 on the crosshead |39 is to providea resilient seat for the bottom' |5| Iof the bale'13 when the latter receives the columnof This occursl asvthe bags arey pushed up against said bottom to strip the bale from-the jaw mechanism 69. l n

In order to provide resilient resistancefth backstop, provisionfis made for compressing 'the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder |41. -This fluid is moved by Ythe piston" |45 but its displacement' is resisted by means of'apressure? relief valvei|53 which is connected'to the rear endrof the cylinder |41 by means of a pipe |55 (Figs. 4 and 8). The relief valve |53 may be set for any predetermined pressurev at which it relieves through a connection |59 into anoil reservoir |51. `Thisloil reser-i voir carries compressed air over the-oilwh-ich, at the time that fluid comes into the..reservoir, is exhausted through an vexhaust port |62. In order to return fluid from the reservoir` to'v the. cylinder |41, the air valve I9 is set toclose its relief port |62 andY to admit air. from` an air supplypipefii `tinto ithesoil 1;reserv,oir. This forces. Aoil 4through sa whe'ck vva'lve I. |63 a .line 65 llea'ding sfrom `:the `reservoir :51.5.1 to vtheqrear Lend of `thehydraulic .1:eylinder |41. The.checkzvalve |.63.is fonthe purposeofmreventing .passageoi oil from the cylin- Lderl. If41to1the oilreservoir via ,pipe |65. .Theiair malte 5, I: l 9 tiszcontrolled fhy 1 operation of `:the camshaft lli through a connecting rod ||1 accordingrt'o `a `.timingiwhieh'will `be -described.`

`f:.peration .of the. machine is4 as follows.:

The: valve :L61 isset to `admit 'air via.; line h1 .tbehind .zthe'piston2 5 and :.to' exhaust airA via @line veiIiQrfi-cm tithe f. other side lof the `rpist'on. ,This :re- -tracts .the clevis I\B,;and :thepgear l|.\-'|;;rolling:on y:rank1 t5 lretracts f' the :ram assembly .33 :fforwardrat twice `.theyespeed zand :double 4the 4distance lof the ,pear movement (-see Fig..`2).

ltrayiilziswassumed:tcxhave .been .loadednvith bagsiand. -clamp barzapplied. Thefloading is such i that i alternate ends lof the groups :of bags .tare aligned respectively .by means :pf lthaeangle guides clamp :bar L65 h'olds the l column Gfbagrsf 1 a unit. The .column rests fagainstlthe ftongues I :Forthls-.purpose `the tray iis iloade'd Ioniafslar with.theltonguesll lowermost. 'This loading` .is .none away from fthe 1present l machine 'anda 'numberr of ftrays `may be preloaded `so as 4to Ibe,available at the-machine.

1 iNest, atray 155 is slidlintofpositionwiththe supports 53 in the guides 45, the traybeingvcenteled.

"The nent operation, `which if *desired i may be ,performed `before `the operations `j ust described, isn totlirowl thev control handle f- I `i 3 into thel horizontal elotted-line position shown in Fig. l, tvherein thelift cams |69 are depressed andthe Jeirazalve f I Ile 'fis Vset ffor admitting air fato theoil `reserveer 451. "This forces `oil "back to *the hydrallicfeylinder I-'M via check valvelllf and line LF65andhastheleiect of'driving forward theback stepIfGT. The "grippers 4'I 25 are atf this timey swung out in the Fig. f2 position (see Aalso 'the dotted 1linesro'' ili'iig.5)

fTheoperator A'next takes `an emptybale "and opens -its mouth.` He lays `it betweenithebaek- 'stop "F31 and the/frame "15, firstapplying'its'lower lipild beneath the curi 93. 1I-Ie then 'lifts `the clamp "handle Vifi-3 -partway up, which vpartially liftstthe wyoke yuntil "the llower mushroom Ipins 83. resiliently push the lip againstthe bottom of thelower cuff. Theplamp handleland the'mechanism-s which 4itoperates areadalsted` to maintain any position^by^reason of 'friction-perse or suitbleriri-otion washers in the .control linkage, if needed.' extthe'operator placesthe upper lip 91 of the balemouthbvertheupper cuff 9| 'andthen raises thefhandle'IIStofits vertical position shown in lsolid *lines in the drawings. This causes "the uppeircuiiiliywhichfis movable with'the yoke 19, to ymove ttoward the `resiliently biased upper mushroom pinsfg'l. "This resiliently `grips "the upperilip '81 and holds the mouth open. When tlaeflcontrol 'handle `I I3 is in the vertical position, thervalve"Ilfhasbeen rset soas "to cut oithe lsupplyof -air 'to the reservoir'l59 and to'open relieffportlz (Fia-tl).

NeXtythe valve |61 `is 4set to introduce uair `via lined-69 into the iront-endofthe cylinder'lyand relievel a'irflromftheother end 'of this-cylinder via line IFM Thisresults` inr the ram assembly `133 'beingr driven -'fo1-ward, the heads I 'entering `theA tray wandsweepinglthecolumn of 'bags as a unit from the tray through the opening |13 of `-the yoke 13. The mass of bags has a pistonzeffectin fthe/:bale which puifslit. outso that itvzacceptsthem `.`.freely,` the air escaping;orwardwaroundl the Lbags ,tthroughrthe balev mouth. InCFig. `1 .the;bale` 51.13 .1 is diagrammatically zsh'owntasitrwill ,puf;.out;as::the

bags subsequently renter. ..Ultimately fthe column offbags 164 engages the bottom I 5 I of .theibaleand ltensions thezbale fin viewfoffthe resilientrgrip :fof itsl mouth: at theH cuffs.

` .This prevents any `tend-- encyxfor the .baleto `crinkle or actlike fan .ac-

Scordion `against :the backstop il 31.

forcing theconneeted piston rearward in 'the v hydraulic cylinder |41. This tends toforcef'fluid via line `F55 through theadjustable pressure relier4 valve |53 into if the oil reservoir V-I 51 via `v`connection 5.9. Thus adjustment fof the rvalve *|53 determines the maximum reaction which the backstop will set up to the action offthe'piston l5. Theiresult isthat every vcolumn of 'bags is lplaced under 'the fsarne `compression "as every other colulnngregardless 4of its 'precise'length I'and regardlessof the total load capacity-'of thepiston `The piston2'5 reaches its rearwardrposition `beiorethe fullstroke of the piston |45 `is exhausted, Thefbackstop 'carriage y|39 engagesno i positive stopl prior -to f exhaustion'of the stroke'o'i' the piston 25. kvfI-Ience, thefpredeterminedconstant axial pressure on the column of 'bags't in thefbale '.13 is determined only by" the adjustment When 'piston A"25 has reached the end Iof `its stroke the Vheads "lI'I `are opposite the nger grips |"2-1.

1 IThe'operator-then movesinthe grippers which partiallyffold in the-sides ofthe bale mouth, thus holding the stack vof "bassin .compression with the mouth of the bale parti'ally'closed i'I-I'owever, Ythe operator may still reach into themouth of the bale, which' is partially open'in a central vertical plane, and removethe clamprodl whichis now loosedue to "bag compression. 'This he does after fhaving 'turned vthe'cor1trol valve 6'1 so "as to retractl'the Vram assembly 73'3. l'Ihe" hea"e`ls III may "at this time angle rearward 'to clearthe lateral part of the bale mouth that has been folded in. The cooperation ofthe 'fingers' |21 with thenotohes in the heads '4 'also facilitates this withdrawing action. Then the `operator fold'sithe bale moutheompletely shut 'and'applies adhesive tape or thelike for making'a permanent closure. It will kbe 'notedthat while the opera-tor is making the v*final closure, the `reaction for maintaining compression in the'column` of "bags is between the backstop Cfromwhichrpressure hasnot been released) "andthe 'fingers |21 of the in-foldedgrippers IZSaCting'through the balewall. After the bale is sealed, the gripper arms |25 out,` which 'rleasesthe `lingers |21 from thefilled bale sothat it may be removed.

` The last rstep is to "move the handle I ilv back to its horizontal position, which -sets 'the .valve 'I I9 to lfee'dcompressed air to the fluid reservoir, thus returningithe iiuid and therefore `the piston |45. This returns the backstop |31 to its initial forward position. The machine is then readyior repetition ofthe operation on the next tray .of bags and the next'bale.

An `advantage of the Huid-resistance type of backs/top is that the compression in all bales is the 'same,"regardlessof their lengths or the length of the column vof material in them. Another-advantage of the movable backstop is that thepolnt are swung r at which the lugs l'21 perform their gripping operation may be coordinated with the rearmost position assumed by the heads 4l and then so left, since the movable backstop will take care of any variations in lengths of bag columns and bales. Tension of each bale due to the expansive Itendency of the column of bags therein will be nthe same as that of all other bales. This uniformity, with the precision with which the bags maiT be located, provides a much more reliable and;

satisfactory condition of the bags when they arrive at the automatic lilling machines. These advantages are in addition to the advantage that each bale constitutes an accurately formed solid package in transit. The compact arrangement of As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as y illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. `Baling apparatus comprising a bed, a holder on said bed adapted resiliently to hold a bale mouth, a support on said bed for acolumn oi articles to be baled, a reciprocating ram supported on the bed and adapted to move said column into the bale to its bottom and to strip the bag mouth from the resilient holder, a backstopnor- 'mally positioned 4for reaction upon the bottom of a filled bale when displaced by the ram, an expansible fluid-chamber device biasing the baci;- stop through a substantial distance to provide said 'reaction with substantial movement, and an adjustable luid throttle member associated with said expansible device for maintaining thereaction throughout said substantial movement iof the backstop. Y

2. Baling apparatus comprising a bed, a holder on said .bedl vadapted resiliently to hold a bale mouth, a support on said bed vfor a column of articles to be baled, a reciprocating ramsupported on the bedand adapted to move said column into the bale to its bottom and to strip the bag mouth from the resilient holder, a backstop normally positioned for reaction upon thebottom of a iilled bale when displaced by theram, a fluidchamber device biasing the baclzstop through a substantial distance to providesaid reac-tion with substantial movement, an Vadjustable fluid throttle outletmember associated with saidiluidchamber device for maintaining the reaction throughout said substantial movement of the baclrs'top,v and a conduit for returning iiuid to said fluid-chamber device and by-passing said throttle member to return the backstop-to its initial position.

3. Baling apparatus comprising an upwardly` sloping bed, a bale-mouth holder yon said bed, a support on said bed below the holder for a column oi articles to be baled, a reciprocating ramguided on the bed below said holder adapted to be forced upward to move said column through the holder into a bale held thereon, a backstop above the holder for reaction 4upon theY bottom of a filled bale, a resilient displacement device associated with -the backstop fory providing said4 reaction with substantial movement of the backstop,.and laterallymovable grippers between the backstop and the holder for partially closing in a bale and holding its contents while receiving reactionfrom the backstop when said ram is retracted from the holder. L

4. Baling apparatus comprising a bed, a holder on said bed adapted resiliently to hold :a bale mouth, a support on said bed for a column of articles .to be baled, a reciprocating ram guided on the bed and adapted tobe forced upward to move said column through the holder into a bale thereon and to strip the loaded bale from the holder, a movable backstop normally positioned adjacent the bottom oi the bale before it is stripped from the holder and engageable therewith thereafter. a resilient mechanism biasing said backstop toward said normal position but yieldable under pressure from the lled and stripped bale, said ram having a vpredetermined ultimate position when the bale is stripped from the holder, gripping members movable into position adjacent the ram in said ultimate positionto hold the articles inthe bale against compression from the backstop upon retraction of the ram, and a device for releasing the resilient mechanism to release `compression of the backstop on the bale for removal of the latter. i

5. Baling apparatus comprising a bed, a balemouth holder on the bed for holding the open mouth of a bag-like bale having a closed bottom, a movable ram in front of said holder movable from a retracted position toward a held bale, a support between the holder and the ram for va column of articles to be baled, said ram being movable to force said column from its support andv into the bale, a backstop behind the holder mov-` able rearward from an initial position in which it is engaged by the bottom of a loaded bale, a resilient mechanism biasing the backstop against the bottom of the bale in all positions of the backstop when contacted by the bale bottom, and gripping members between the holder and the backstop andvengageable with the forward end of the co1- umn throughvthe bale sides to maintain a reaction to the back-stop so that the ram may be withdrawn without immediately releasing compression in the column. A A6. Baling apparatus comprising a bed, ay balemouthfholder on the bed for resiliently holding the 'open mouth of a bag-like bale having a closed bottom, a movable ram in front of said holder movable from a retracted position toward a held bale, a support between the holder and the ram for a column of articles to be baled, said ram be- .ing movable to force said column from its support into the bale, said support and the tray including openings permitting movement of Athe ram therethrough, a backstop behind the holder movable rearward from an initial position in which it is engaged yby the bottom of a loaded bale, a resilient mechanism biasing the backstop against the bottom of the balein al1 positions of the backstop when contacted by the bale bottom, releasablegripping members between the holder and the backstop and engageable with the forward end of the column through the bale sides to maintain a reaction to the backstop so that the ram may be withdrawn without immediately releasing compression in the column, and amechanism for returning said backstop to its `initial position after release of the releasable gripping members.

catches-3 "7:5 Balingapparatus comprising abed, afhale- -r:=fmouth=.holder on the bedl for gripping'the open fimouth of a =baglike1ba`le havinga close'dbottom, a movable ram in front. ofsaid holdermovable ongitudinally` from a retracted `position toward a gripped bale, a "lateral support-for the ram; the ram having an` overhang .withrespe'ct to the support-land `a 4removable tray' for "containing `between the holder and the ram a column of articles td bef baled, `'said ram being movable to force said columncfrom its tray into the bale, said tray including longitudinal Vbottom openings permitting movement rtherethroughofv the-'lateral ram supl-\, :port.- f' Y 8. Baling apparatus comprisingfaffbedya balemouth holder1 on the J4bed, iongripping the open mouth of`a bag-like bale haying a closed bottom, a movable ram in front off-said holdermo'vable longitudinally from a retracted positionv toward a gripped' bale, a lateral-support-for thev ram, the '1 4ram having a` relatively short overhang with reaspect to theV support, aA tray for containing be- ""fvtween-the holder and the` ram a column of artifcles to be baled, a tray supporton the bed; .said

nfrfram being movable to force said `column `from, the.

'"ftray jint'othe bale, said tray and thetray-support. including longitudinal* openings` permitting movement of the ram and its lateral supportcompletely therethrough.`- l

9. aling apparatuscomprising a bed,.1a.,bale mutn holder on thebed forgrippingthe open rniouth ofk a 'bag-like bale having a closed bottom, a movable ram in front of said holder movable from a retracted position toward a gripped bale, a sliding support for the ram, the ram having a relatively short overhang with respect to its support, a tray between the holder and the ram for a column of articles to be baled, said ram being movable to force said column from its tray into the bale, a tray support, said tray support and the tray including openings permitting movement of the ram support therethrough, a driver for the ram support comprising a pair of parallel toothed racks one of which is stationary on the bed and the other of which is attached to the ram support, a gear engaging both racks, and a piston for driving said gear alo-ng the stationary rack to drive the other rack in a movement ratio of 2:1 between the ram and the piston movements.

10. Baling apparatus comprising a longitudinal bed, a bale-mouth holder on the bed for gripping the open mouth of a bag-like bale having a closed bottom, a movable ram in front of said holder movable from a retracted position toward a gripped bale, a support between the holder and the ram for a column of articles to be baled, said ram being movable to force said column from its support into the bale, a pair of longitudinal parallel racks one of which is stationary` and the other of which is attached to the ram, a gear engaging both racks, and a cylinder containing a piston driver for moving said gear along the stationary rack to drive the other rack in a movement ratio of 2:1 between the ram and piston movements.

11, Baling apparatus comprising a longitudinal bed, a bale-mouth holder on the bed for gripping the open mouth of a bag-like bale having a closed bottom, a movable ram in front of said holder movable from a retracted position toward a gripped bale, a support between the holder and the ram for a column of articles to be baled, said ram being movable to force said column from its support into the bale, a pair of longitudinal parallel racks one of which is stationary and the other of 'which' isattached to the ram, a gear engaging I'both racks, and a cylinder containing a pistondriver for moving said gear along the sta- `tionaryrack to drive the other rack `in a move- `ment ratio of 2:1 between the ramand vpiston movementathe stationary rack being located underV said article support'y and the movable rack fi being `retractable over the cylinder.

" spect tof its base, a' trayior containing between c includingopeninggpermitting -ram base-therethrough, means for driving the 12f- Baling` apparatus comprising a 4longitudin-al bed, a bale-mouth holder onthe bedfor gripfor the ram, the

the holder andthe'ram a column of articles to be baled, said ramI being movable longitudinally toforce Asaid column from its `tray into the bale,

a traysupport, saidtrz-:vy support andthe -tray movement or the ram basecomprising a pair of longitudinally parallel toothed' racks'one or which is stationary on thebed andl under thetray support and the other 'ofjwhich is 'movable'and attached to theram base, a gear engaging .both racks, and a `cylinder containing a` 4piston driver for `moving said gear along thestationary rack todrive the other in a movement ratio Vof 2:1 between the ram and piston -movements, said movable rack being Aretractable over the cylinder.

13. Ealing apparatus comprising a bed, a balemouth holder on the bed adapted resiliently to hold the open mouth of a bag-like bale having a closed bottom, a movable ram in front of said holder movable from a retracted position toward a held bale, a double-acting power piston for reciprocating said ram, a support between the holder and the ram for a column of articles to be baled, said ram being movable to force said column from its support into the bale and to strip the bale mouth from the resilient hold of the holder, said ram being retractable, a movable backstop beind the holder movable rearward from an initial position in which it is engaged by the bottom of a loaded bale to another position, a rel silient compression device biasing the backstop against the bottom of the bale in all positions of the backstop when contacted by the bale bottom, and releasable grip members adapted to substitute a compressive hold on the column when the ram is retracted to receive reaction from said Ibaclrstop due tothe bias of the backstop.

14. Baling apparatus comprising a bed, a bale- 1nouth holder on the bed adapted resiliently to hold the open mouth cf a bag-like bale having a closed bottom, a movable ram in front of said holder movable fromaretracted positionv toward a held bale, a double-acting power piston for reciprocating said ram, a support between the holder and the ram for a column of articles to be baled, said ram advancing to force said column from its support into the bale and to strip the bale mouth from its holder, a movable backstop behind the holder movable rearward from an initial position in ,which it is engaged by the bottom of a loaded bale to another position, a resilient device biasing the backstop against the bottom of the bale in all positions of the backstop when contacted by the bale bottom and comprising a fluid cylinder having a compression piston connected to move with the backstop, a liquid reservoir having a connection adapted to receive liquid displaced by said compression piston, a resistance relief valve in said connection permitting flow only to the reservoir, a second connectionhaving a check valveallowing flow only from the resersive-fluid supply compartment for said reservoir and for said power piston, a rst valve controlling flow of, expansive fluid to the reservoir and a second valve controlling flow of expansive fluid to the power'piston, a control for theresilient bale holder coordinated with said reservoir valve- `so that when the ram advances expansive fluid is releasedl to allow of resistance-controlled flow of fluid to the reservoir, said ycontrol when in its other position being adapted to operate said valve to apply fluid pressure to the reservoir, whereby liquid is returned vto the iiuid cylinder toreturn the backstop to its initial position.

15. Baling apparatus vcomprising a bed, a resilient bale-mouth'holderron the bed, a support ahead of the holder for articles to be baled, a re-` ciprocatingram ahead of said articles adapted to sweep thernvtoward said holder andv into a bale held thereby, a reciprocating piston movable parallel tothe ram, a gear adapted to be translated.

bythe piston, a stationary rack engaged by the gear, a movable rack connected with the ram and also engaged by the gear whereby-the ram is.

moved from the piston in a 2*:1 ratio, a movable backstop behind the holder having a normal position adjacent a bale bottom when the .bale mouth be moved by action of the ram by Way ofsaid 12 articles `when -the latter are pushed thereby against the bottom of the `bale and' alsoftoqstrip the bale from the holder,a'resilientdevicerfor Voir towardy thecompression piston, an expan- --fbolding said backstop against ythe lbale bottom afterthe bale has been stripped, grippers..for

y Numbery Y 1 Name 1 i 110,346 Desgoffe Dec.,20,1870 I 380,185 Chase Mar. 275411888 .942,25'7. l v Hansen et al Dec.- 7;.1909 1,345,926 .t VHarris July e, 1920 2,029,984 Butterfield et alt Feb.f4p1936 2,113,115 MacMilln et a1. 1- Aplri, 1938 v2,220,632 Abbott v NOV; 5, 1940 2,347,147v Weeks v l Apr. l17, .1945 2,393,102 Grbner 1 -11- Jan. '18, `1946 `2,402,476 Weeks June 18, 1946 FOREIGN IEYA'IENIS n Y Number CountryA Date ymouth when the reciprocating ram retractsgand `'a control device for releasing the resilient-theekstop holdingdevice.k f f' i f t y ARTHUR E.-GLOW. LIGECOAKLEY. i

H REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record -inthe fiile of this patent; i f UNITED s'rATEvsrATEN'rs Datel Great Britain sept.- 3 1942 

